Sunday, April 5, 2009

Need A Clutch Purse!

Ok so I have been really busy. Not only a new job, but a new house closing in less than a month! I haven't felt like I have had a lot of knitting time in the past month but also I but I still had a little time to do a clutch purse for myself. Where I work has high security and I need to have a bag for all my keys and I.D. and such, and this fit the bill! Next post I will show you all what little progress I have made on some projects, about some local happenings and maybe about some knitting goodness I have encountered..


I hope you all enjoy the pattern and appreciate that this is my first pattern I have ever offered, and realize I am not a professional at this (AKA don't be too harsh with the criticism!).
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Need a Clutch Purse!
You will need:
One skein (or more if you want some cool colors)
10 ½ U.S. Circular (16 inch) Knitting Needles
10 ½ U.S. Double Point Knitting Needles (2)
Tapestry Needle
Regular Thread and Needle
1 slip ring marker


Stitch Pattern:
It is a moss stitch pattern, two rows, piece o cake!
Round 1: *K1, P1… continue through round in pattern.
Round 2: *P1, K1… continue through round in pattern.

Pattern:
CO 40 stitches, join into round.

Start Stitch Pattern, continue in pattern for 2 inches.


Increasing Round:

K1, M1, continue in pattern for 18 stitches, M1, K1. Place Marker. K1, M1, continue in pattern for 18 stitches, M1, K1.

(Every Increasing Round is K1, M1, continue in pattern until 1 before marker, M1, K1. After Marker K1, M1, continue in pattern until 1 before marker, M1, K1)

Knit 4 rounds

Increase round

Do Pattern of knit 4 rounds, Increase round, 2 more times. (3 increase rounds total)


Decreasing Round:
(Every decreasing row will be SKP, continue in patterns to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog. SKP, continue in pattern to 2 stitches before marker, K2tog.)

Knit 4 in pattern rounds

Decreasing Round.

Continue in this pattern (if you like how it looks, or adjust the knitting and decreases to the shape you like) until clutch measures 6 ½ inches. Bind off in 3-needle bind off. Here is a good link to a 3-needle bind off (its at the bottom of the page): http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/casting-off

I-Cord strap:
Cast on 5 stitches with double point needles. Knit an I-cord that measures 18 inches. Here is a good link to making an I-cord (again, towards the bottom of the page):
http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Sew the strap together using the yarn and a tapestry needle. The ends of the strap must face the same way. Sew the strap into the inside of the clutch on to one of the decrease sides.

Felting:
Throw the clutch into the washer with a pair of old jeans. Turn the top loading washer (hint hint) onto hot, and let it run a cycle, you don’t have to put any detergent into it. Then just let the purse air dry. You can pin the purse to shape if you want to but I let mine free-dry, and did not get any drying wrinkles in mine.

Sew in the zipper:

Just find the shortest zipper you can (mine was 7 inches and I just folded it into the bag) and sew it in with regular thread and needle.

Enjoy: Do I really have to explain that one?

1 comment:

  1. Wow, K. Now, I have a question for you. How does one START knitting? I'm afraid to venture beyond crochet. :)

    ReplyDelete